Page 15 - MFW June 2025

DRONE RACING
DRONE RACING Where we race
DRONE RACING
Born out of the 2011 earthquakes,
Redzone Drone Racing Incorporated – Christchurch, NZ
Redzone Drone Racing Incorporated – Christchurch, NZ Christchurch’s Red Zone has been an
Redzone Drone Racing Incorporated – Christchurch, NZ
incredible space for drone racing. With
natural obstacles to navigate, a safe
distance from busy roads, and no nearby
houses to disturb with noise, it has been
the perfect fit for RZDR.

The land RZDR currently occupies, next
to Donnell Sports Park, is leased from the
Christchurch City Council (originally
under Land Information New Zealand
(LINZ) when the lease was first
established). It’s surreal to walk through
the Red Zone today and imagine that this
What’s drone racing? vast open space was once filled with
Imagine being immersed in homes and thriving communities. Many
your own world flying at over of the houses were removed after the
160 km/h weaving through earthquakes when the land was deemed
gates and past flags, all while unfit for residential use due to unstable
sitting in the comfort of your ground after the liquefaction. Below, you
seat wearing an FPV (First- can see a comparison of the area—once
Person-View) headset. lined with streets and houses, now an
That’s drone racing! With open expanse where we race.
lightning-fast takeoffs, razor-
sharp turns, and instant halts,
it’s a battle of reflexes and
skill.

Who are we?
Redzone Drone Racing
Incorporated (RZDR) is an
FPV drone racing club based
in Christchurch. It began in
2016, just as drone racing
was taking off, originally
known as the Christchurch
Mini-Quad Club. A group of
friends with their custom-built
quadcopters, raced through
makeshift gates crafted from
pool noodles and conduit, all
crammed into their cars for
transport every weekend.

By 2019, the club had
evolved, officially registering
as Redzone Drone Racing
Incorporated (the first, and
only incorporated society for
drone racing in New Zealand)
stepping up with the aim to
lead New Zealand in drone
racing to an international standard. With a dedicated container in the Red If you’re keen to check out our racing, be
Zone, along with gazebos and netting for shade and safety, the club sure to follow our Facebook page! We’re
expanded it’s infrastructure. Custom gates and flags with branding, a PA currently in the process of securing a new
system for race announcements, and an automated timing system to location as the Council plans to restore
count laps and register times revolutionized the experience—no more parts of the Red Zone to native forest,
manually shouting lap numbers! returning it to how it was before houses
were built. While we’re sad to be moving,
Today, RZDR attracts 10-15 pilots weekly, with racers ranging in age from we’re excited about plans for our new
16 to 60, all coming from diverse backgrounds but united by their passion location to start our next chapter.
for high-speed drone racing.
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